Container



G. F. FORD r AL May 11, 1937.

CONTAINER Filed Feb. 25, 1955 1NVENTOR5 GIG/H52 F F020. w 27-52 {Z n- .MAM BY g THE/E ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1 937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Fibreboard Products Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware s Application February 25, 1935, Serial No 7,946

' sjclaims. (01. 229-28).

Our invention :relates to containers for holding eggs, and more particularly to containers comprising separately formed cartons and fillers.

It is among the objects of our invention to provide a containerwhich afiords better supp rt and more protectionfor the eggs, yet which exposes a large portion of the eggs for' display purposes.

Another object of ourinventionis to provide a filler construction which is folded from a single piece, and adapted to collapse flat for shipping Another'object of our invention is to provide a collapsible filler whichmay be readily set up.

Still another objectof our invention is to provide a filler which when set up is a rigid, self-supporting unit, and which does not depend upon the carton to hold its shape.

A further objectof our invention is to provide a filler which places the load directly on the bottom of the carton,-instead of transmitting it to the side walls.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a filler construction which readily perits and assists in the closing of the carton A still further object of our invention is to provide a filler which forms a crown top on the carton.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, withthe foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of our invention. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to this disclosure of species of our invention, as we mayadopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims. a

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container embodying our invention, portions of the carton being broken away to disclose the filler construction more clearly.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the'container; and

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the blank from which the filler embodying our' invention is folded.

Figure 4 is an end view of the blank showing the manner in which the same is folded into collapsed position.

Figure 5 is an end viewof the filler in collapsed position. The filler is shown opened somewhat from the fully collapsed position to illustrate the manner of folding.

In terms of broad inclusion, the container embodying our invention comprises a separately formed carton and filler. The egg holding filler is formed from a one-piece blank of sheet material, and from the blank is partially folded to a fiat collapsed position convenient for shipping. From the partially folded collapsed position the filler may readily be completely folded to the final set-up condition. In the set-up position the filler comprises an inverted Y-shaped section and a plurality of inverted V-shaped sections straddling the Y-shaped section. Thelegs of the V-shaped sections are secured at their lower ends to the base of the Y-shaped section, and means are preferably provided for interlocking the intermediate portions of th V-shaped sections to the ridge of the Y-shaped section.

In greater detail, and referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the container embodying our invention comprisesan outer carton having a bottom wall 2, side walls 3 and end walls 4. The carton is preferably rectangular in shape, the one shown being elongated and of the type designed for holding one dozen eggs in two rows of six eggs each. The carton is also provided with a cover or lid 6 and a cover flap 1 for holding the lid in place. also preferably provided with leg flanges 8 for supporting the bottom of the carton above the base upon which the carton rests. 7

As best shown in Figure 2, the sides of the carton preferably slope inwardly toward the bottom, so that the width across the top of the carton is greater than that across the bottom. This. construction keeps the side walls spaced when the cartons are placed side by side.

As shown in Figures land 2, the filler as final- 3 ly set up and adapted for insertion in the carton comprises an inverted Y-shaped section 9 extending longitudinally of-the carton and dividing the latter into two troughs, and also comprises a plurality of inverted V-shaped sections Ii straddling the Y-shaped section 9 and extending transversely of the carton for dividing the troughs into separate pockets. The inverted Y-shaped section of the filler comprises a vertically extending and centrally disposed ridge portion i2' of double sheet thickness, the sheets of which divide at the bottom of the ridge and diverge downwardly to form the legs l3. These legsform resilient suspensions for-the eggs H.

The lower portions of the legs 13 are flattened out into horizontally disposed and outwardly extending base portions i8 which restagainst the bottom 2 of the carton. As best shown in Figure 2, the lower ends of the legs l3 terminate at points spaced inwardly from the side walls 3 of The carton is the carton, and fiat base portions l6 extend outwardly to the side walls. The flat base portions 16 provide bottom seats against which the points of the eggs may rest, and the arrangement is such that the weight of the eggs is carried substantially entirely by these base portions of the filler, the outward thrust against the sidewalls exerted by the eggs being very small.

The V-shaped sections or partition elements I I each have a pair of wide leg portions ll straddling the ridge portion I2 and extending downwardly into the parallel troughs formed by the body section, thereby dividing the troughs into a series of separate egg holding pockets. These leg portions I! of the partition elements have their inner edges l8 spaced from the leg portions l3 of the body section to keep the portions l3 from bracing up against the-edges l8. This provides a free suspension for the eggs. The

partition legs H are also provided with substan tially straight outer edges l9 extending upwardly .along the sidewalls of the carton.

Partition sections II-. have their lower ends fixed to the base portions I6 of the body section. By this fastening the inverted Y-shaped body section is rigidly and securely held against spreading. The inverted Y-shaped body section is also suspended from the mid portions of the partition sections. This fastening also holds the partition elements in upright position. The fastening is preferably effected by a suitable interlock, such-as an aperture 20 in the partition section II engaged by a hook 2| formed in the ridge portion l2 of the body section. In order to further prevent the body section from bracing rigidly against the partition elements, the body section is cut awayabout the hooks 2! to provide'free spacing between the body and partitions. NoteFigure 1. By this arrangement the upper portion of the body section is free of the partitions, except for the hook suspension.

The fact that the filler finds its principal support on the bottom 2, insures that the load is carried directly on the bottom of the carton, and not transmitted to the side walls, This is important in a carton of the character described having integrally formed flange portions 8, because in such a construction a side thrust would tend to split the legs.

As also shown in Figure 2, the ridge portion l2 of the body section terminates below the upper rim of the side walls. This insures a maximum exposure of the eggs for display purposes. It will also be observed that the upper side edges 22 of the partition sections are sloping and cut back to also aid in giving a maximum of egg exposure, yet without sacrificing protective. value orrigidity of support. Another point of merit is the double sheet thickness at the ridge portion 12, which is the dividing element between the eggs of separate troughs. The sheets of. this ridge portion are'bowed out slightly to provide a resilient pad between the eggs. f

As alsobest shown in Figure 2, the partition sections H preferably extend above the carton side walls'to provide a raised central support for the cover 6 of the carton. This raised support causes the cover to assume an arched or crown shape, and not only gives additional spacing above and therefore added protection to the underlying eggs, but also provides an added support for the elevated bottom of an overlying carton when the cartons are in stacked relation. Another feature of the filler construction is that it has no side walls to. interfere with the-insertion of the cover flap 7. The insertion of the cover flap is further aided by the sloping upper edges 22 of the filler, and also by the position of the eggs to.

Another point of merit lies in the positioning of the eggs. The tilting of these eggs in our filler improves the display, and also adds a protective feature. The added protection is due to the fact that the tilted position throws the points of the eggs toward the lower side and the butts of the eggs to the upper center. By this ar- 10 rangement the eggs in overlying cartons cannot contact because the butts and points are not in alignment. The eggs of cartons which are positioned side by side cannot contact because of theshape of the cartons, that is thesloping 15 side walls cause the cartons to abut along" their upper side edges and are held spaced along their lower side portions.

The filler embodying our invention is designedfi to be folded from a single piece of sheet mate- 20 rial, and is adapted to collapse flat for shipping. Figure 3 shows the blank from which the filler is folded. The blank isgenerally rectangular in shape and comprises two-portiona one of which forms the Y-shaped or; body section and the 25 other of which forms the V-shaped partition sections. As illustrated in Figure 3 the righthand portion of the blank is put to provide a series of V-shaped tabs.

I These tabs form the partition sections H of the filler, and when lying flat and in the plane of the blank are nested together. This portion of the blank is also creased along substantially parallel and longitudinally extending lines 23 arranged along the side edges of the tabs H, 35 and is also creased along a plurality of transverse lines 2t extending across the base of the tabs. A longitudinal crease line25 is also provided through the center of the tabs. This crease line is utilized when folding the filler into collapsed position for shipping.

The other portion of the blank is creased along a pluralityof longitudinally extending and sub stantially parallel lines 26, 2'! and 28. This portion of the blank is adapted to be folded so that 45 the strip areas between the central crease line 26' and intermediate crease lines 21 form the ridge portion I2 ofthe inverted Y-shaped body section, and the strip portions between the intermediate crease lines 21 and outer crease lines 5 28 form the legs 13 of the Y, while the outer strip areas form the base portions l6. Suitable apertures 29 are cut in the blank sothat when the latter is folded the hooks 2| are formed in the ridge portion i2 of the body section. 5

The forming of the blank and the folding thereof into collapsed position for. shipping is as follows: As the sheet material comes from a supply roll it isscored to provide the longitudinal crease lines 23, 25, 26, 21 and 28, and trans- 60 verse crease lines 25. The sheet is then cut to form theV-shaped partition sections II, and next punched to form the various apertures; Simultaneous with this punching operation the blanks are severed from the main body of the 6.3

I sheet.

The completed blank, as shown in Figure 3, is then passed to suitable folding devices where the tabs H are folded in half along the crease line 25 and upwardly from the blank along the crease lines 23. Also the ridge portion I2 is folded upfrom the blank from the crease lines 27. The blank at this stage of folding is illustrated in Figure 4. The next steps comprise folding down the up-folded portion H lathe dlrection indicated by the arrow 3i, and then folding the shorter portion i2 down in the direction indicated by the arrow 32. The outer portions of the blank are folded in along the crease lines 23 and 21 in the directions indicated by the arrows 33, and then glued along their overlapping edges, with the narrow strip 34 underneath.

When fully collapsed the filler is substantially flat and occupies little space while shipping. Figure 5 shows the filler opened somewhat from the collapsed position. It is to be noted that the portions of the filler likely to become damaged are folded within the body of the collapsed parcel and are therefore protected against injury. As illustrated, the filler in collapsed condition is in the nature of an envelope, the two halves of which comprise M-shaped sections.

Upon reaching the consumer the collapsed fillers may readily be set up by unfolding the partition sections Ii and forcing the ridge portion i2 inwardly and into interlocking engagement with partition sections.

We claim:

1. A filler comprising an inverted Y-shaped section having a vertically disposed and upwardly extending ridge portion and having horizontally disposed and outwardly extending base portions,

and a plurality of inverted V-shaped sections extending transversely of the Y-shaped section, the V-shaped sections straddling said ridge portion and secured at their ends to said base portions.

2. A container comprising a carton having bottom and side walls, an inverted Y-shaped filler section in the carton, and a plurality of inverted V-shaped filler sections straddling the Y-shaped section and secured at their lower ends to base portions of said Y-shaped sections resting upon the bottom of the carton adjacent the longitudi- 4 nal corners thereof, the partitions extending 50 straddling the Y-shaped section and secured at their lower ends to the base portions of said Y- shaped section.

4. A container comprising a carton having bottom and side walls, an inverted Y-shaped filler section in the carton, and a plurality of inverted V-shaped filler sections straddling the Y-shaped section and secured at their lower ends" to the base portions of said Y-shaped section, said V- shaped sections extending upwardly to a point above the side walls of the carton.

5. A container comprising a carton having bottom and side walls, an inverted Y-shaped filler section in the carton, and a plurality of inverted v.-shaped filler sections straddling the Y-shaped section and secured at their lower ends to the base portions of said Y-shaped section, the ridge of the Y-shaped section being positioned below the rim of the carton side walls and the vshaped sections extending upwardly to a point above the side walls.

6. A container comprising a carton having bottom and side walls, an inverted Y-shaped filler section arranged centrally of the carton with the legs thereof spaced inwardly ofthe carton side walls and having horizontal base portions resting on the bottom of the carton and extending outwardly to the side walls, and a plurality of inverted V-shaped filler sections straddling the Y-shaped section and secured at their lower ends to the base portions of said Y-shaped section.

7. A collapsible filler comprising a blank having a portion thereof creased for folding into an inverted Y-shaped section and a second portion cut and creased for folding into a plurality of partition sections, said blank being folded with the partition sections and portions of the Y- forming portion interfolded between other portions of the Y-forming portion.

8. A filler comprising an inverted Y-shaped section having a vertically disposed central ridge portion and horizontally disposed base portions connected to the ridge portion by inclined arm portions, and a plurality of inverted V-shaped partitions extending transversely of the Y- shaped section and straddling the ridge thereof said partition having diverging arms seating upon the base portions, the inner and outer edges of the diverging arms being substantially parallel to the inclined arm portions of the Y-shaped section and the upper portions of the partitions extending above the upper edge of the ridge portion.

9.'A filler comprising an inverted Y-shaped section having a vertically disposed central ridge portion and horizontally disposed base portions connected to the ridge portion by inclined arm portions, and a plurality of inverted V-shaped partitions extending transversely of the Y- shaped section and straddling the ridge thereof, said partition having diverging arms seating upon the base portions, the inner edges of the partition arms being substantially parallel to and spaced from the inclined arm portions of the Y-shaped section, and the outer edges of the partition arms having inclined portions substantially parallel to the inner edges of the arms and extending to points above the upper edge of the ridge portion.

GEORGE F. FORD.

WALTER F. PITTMAN. 

